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Big Sur Update

Is anybody able to update 11.5 to 11.5.1 without it locking up?

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 11.5

Posted on Jul 28, 2021 6:53 PM

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Posted on Jul 30, 2021 5:07 AM

Agree totally.


Thusly, the other options outlined earlier. Apple has more work to be done on the delivery process. Since they have apparently discontinued, in Big Sur, to offer the Standalone updates like in previous versions of macOS - we have to devise other methods to achieve the same results.


Kind of keeps us on our toes :-)

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 30, 2021 5:07 AM in response to Derek Currie

Agree totally.


Thusly, the other options outlined earlier. Apple has more work to be done on the delivery process. Since they have apparently discontinued, in Big Sur, to offer the Standalone updates like in previous versions of macOS - we have to devise other methods to achieve the same results.


Kind of keeps us on our toes :-)

Jul 29, 2021 2:27 AM in response to DinoCretaceous

If this update is for Big Sur 11.5 - the error message can be misleading. There are factors like poor Wifi connection, slow wifi connection, too many other people downloading at the same time and Apple Severs are overloaded, Software on the computer interfering with the download process, running behind a VPN and AV Software Installed and or / if via wifi too many Other devices using the wifi at the same time reducing the Bandwidth to you computer. Best Results are via Ethernet Cable to Router


There are several ways to download the Big Sur 11.5.1 update. 


1 - Connect to Router via Ethernet connection and restart the computer in Safe Mode and then open the Apple Apps Store and get the Full Installer of Big Sur. It will be the 11.5.1 version and once downloaded run the installer from the Applications folder.



2 - Resart the computer in Recovery Mode ( INTEL Command + r ) and choose Reinstall macOS. It too will download the full Installer and commence the installation. For M1 CPU the Recovery Mode is Here



3 - This method may seem unnecessary but sometimes the Router Restart clears Network issues from ISP to Apple Servers


Shutdown Router. Shutdown computer and disconnect all External Drives. Restart Router. Connect to Router via Ethernet Cable. If via Wifi - Disconnect all other Devices using the Wifi - want the Maximum Bandwidth only for this computer. Restart computer in  Safe Mode. It does a Repair Disk, Clear System Cache files and only load Apple Software, extensions and Fonts. Will load slowly - Normal. Once Logged in - open Apple Apps Store and  Get the Full Version of Big Sur. It will take some time and several pauses will occur - normal. Countdown clock may say 15 minutes but in Real time may be 30 minutes. Same goes for clock at 10 minutes could be 20 minutes in Real time. Eventually , Full Installer will download and a New Application in Applications Folder will present called Install Big Sur. Stop there and perform a Time Machine Backup. If desired - have an External Drive - Copy & Paste the Install Big Sur Application to external drive for future usage - making a Bootable Installer. Now run the Installer.


Have found this method more reliable than the Software Update which is very iffy at best


Are there any AntiVirus, Disk Cleaner, Optimizers, Defrag, VPNs etc installed which should be removed as per Developers Instructions. They are useless, unneeded, cause havoc and interfere with the normal operation of the OS and may even Corrupt the OS requiring a Reinstallation.

Jul 28, 2021 7:38 PM in response to DinoCretaceous

Related: My MacBook Air M1 is UNable to access the 11.5.1 update in Software Update, three days after its release date. Seeing as I'm in AppleSeed, this is extremely odd. Checking around the net, there have been other reports of 11.5.1 locking up Macs, for example comments over at 9to5 Mac. My impression is that Apple has pulled access to the update for certain Mac models. I'll be contacting Apple Support to press them for an explanation.

Jul 29, 2021 2:39 PM in response to PRP_53

After numerous attempts and many hours, with software update (safe start, recovery start) nothing worked. Always locked up and said 10 minutes remaining, even after leaving on all night. Additionally it would disable battery charging even though the 2019 MacBook Pro running 11.5 was plugged in to a power adaptor. The recommendation to download full Big Sur from the App Store versus the software update feature worked. After a 5 hour download the first attempt locked up at the 52 minute mark, but after another safe start, the installation finally went through. Apparently the software update for this 11.5.1 is useless. First time ever had this much trouble with a software update. Thank you for recommendations.

Jul 30, 2021 4:30 AM in response to DinoCretaceous

Agree to disagree with respect.


The 11.5.1 update via System Preferences worked just fine on my unit M1 MBA. That does not mean it work file for all others - agree.


As for the usefulness of the 11.5.1 - still waiting for documented proof that supports the original claim that it is useless.


As for whining - recheck from whom that originated from. But, I am used to these types of comments. As Useful as the comments about 11.5.1 being not useful.

Big Sur Update

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